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Wednesday, 20 February 2013

Wild Bird Wednesday 32 - Tasmanian Native-hen

Tasmania is about 150 miles from the mainland of Australia and has been separated from the mainland for about 10,000 years. As a result it has a number of endemic species - that is ones that are not found anywhere else.

One of Tasmania's least colourful endemics is the Tasmanian Native-hen (Gallinula mortierii). This flightless bird is closely resulted to Moorhens. Its about 45 cm long and can generally been seen dashing about from patches of cover.

Luckily for me these birds seemed a little more relaxed than some and were more willing to show than most of the others I saw. This could be due to the fact that they were outside I coffee shop that also sold ice-cream!

As you can see the chicks are of such supreme ugliness that you can't help but like them!

Now its over to you!

Don't forget (please!!!) to link to an actual post rather than just to you blog address - it does make it easier for me, and directs other bloggers to the indented post.

Ugly is Beautiful ... it's all in the eye of the beholder. I love this little sweet hen who is clearly related to our Moorhens so far, far away. Thank you again, Stewart, for broadening my knowledge. I am about to put Tasmania on my Bucket List ... though there probably is little chance I will make it there.

Hi Stewart, Findlay is away in North Wales at Grandma's but has given me strict instructions to link up his most recent blog and let you know he will be back sharing and commenting next week. Love those chicks, big stocky brutes!

Your moorhen is delightful! My grandson likes to ask me to name five flightless birds and I am always stumped because there is a tendency to want to add roadrunners and chickens because they don't fly MUCH but they can fly for a very short distance. I'm never sure if that's cheating. You've given me a new one to add! I'm thrilled you got a shot of the baby, also! Oh, and I love the new size you are using for your pictures.